...probably preaching to the choir on this message board but the Penguins need to split the power-play units into two groups. Crosby and Malkin need to dominate the ice and it is virtually killing our chances in the last 40-60 seconds because we don't have the playmaker on the 2nd unit to create the mismatch such a move could create.

cs6687 wrote:Shot differential is a -37 right now. Take out the NJ disaster and it's -3.

quite telling. that game was horrid, horrid offense. i had a red mark on my forehead for a few hours after the game from the continual "doh's"! I felt like Jack McBrayer at the bar in a scene of Forgetting Sarah Marshall...

Bowser wrote:...probably preaching to the choir on this message board but the Penguins need to split the power-play units into two groups. Crosby and Malkin need to dominate the ice and it is virtually killing our chances in the last 40-60 seconds because we don't have the playmaker on the 2nd unit to create the mismatch such a move could create.

...I'd like to note here that I have been disappointed with the weak body play of Staal and he hasn't made any improvement on his passing skills or stick speed.

I think a cure to the Staal mysery would be to buy him a mirror. He has no clue how to handle that frame. No clue. And his stick speed is a real mystery, because he was pretty good on the backcheck in the first period tonight, getting nearly 3 consecutive takeaways. On offense, however, his stick speed is ridiculous. He is like a toddler on the puck. It must have to do with confidence, and he clearly has it on the backcheck, but not offense because the disparity between facets should not be that much...

And that's about all he did tonight.Apparently the nhl stats do not reveal his brutal giveaways.I get a little bit worried about his vision when he makesthose back passes and a half of them land on theopponent's stick. I bet MT would demote anyone elsefor lesser mistakes to the 3rd or 4th line.

Also, MT, why don't you swap Gill for Staal.They should be working in front of the oppositenets than they do now

The offense is an enigma so far. They'll look horrible for stretches and then, suddenly, have a great shift or two. I'll chalk it up to chemistry still needing to be found; short training camp + plus lots of new guys. I'd like to see the forwards be better defensively.

Good on Dupuis, especially for all the flack he catches around here. I thought he had an excellent game.

I like both Gill & Scuderi. I really really really do not care for them as even strength pairing.

I'm super happy with Fleury this season.

How does Orpik have a two point game (including a power play goal!) and not get one of the three stars? Craziness, in the pressbox at Mellon Arena.

I'm not sure that Versus could have possibly promoted Sports Soup more. And I had the tv muted, so I'm sure the announcers mentioned it repeatedly as well. (That being said, I watched some of it because I like Matt Iseman. The announcer with the hair flopping in the wind FTW.)

Just got back from the game, sorry if this was talked about. MT made a mistake tonight on the cryers 2nd goal. We had a faceoff in our end in the right circle which is where you need a righty (Ziggy) to take the draw, but instead let crosby take it and he lost it clean and the puck is in our net. Little things like that is what makes me not like MT's in-game coaching.

They got the 2 points, they worked hard. They still aren't right yet, but you take the points. It is pretty alarming though that Staal can't even crack it on the first power play...All he needs to do is stand in front of the net and play physical...MT moved him down to the 4th line for a little bit yesterday as well...

You know what I never want to hear from a Flyers fan? Is how much Crosby whines. How many closeups were there of Mike Richards whining about calls? And then he sucker punches the Tank whilst being held down by a linesman. What a turd.

cojac wrote:Just got back from the game, sorry if this was talked about. MT made a mistake tonight on the cryers 2nd goal. We had a faceoff in our end in the right circle which is where you need a righty (Ziggy) to take the draw, but instead let crosby take it and he lost it clean and the puck is in our net. Little things like that is what makes me not like MT's in-game coaching.

if it's the first line's turn to be out there, you don't keep them on the bench because of a defensive zone faceoff. especially when you're replacing him with a 4th liner. sid is good at faceoffs, there's no need to work around him.

it would be a mistake to replace a fresh sid with an inferior player because of faceoffs.

cojac wrote:Just got back from the game, sorry if this was talked about. MT made a mistake tonight on the cryers 2nd goal. We had a faceoff in our end in the right circle which is where you need a righty (Ziggy) to take the draw, but instead let crosby take it and he lost it clean and the puck is in our net. Little things like that is what makes me not like MT's in-game coaching.

I see nothing wrong with what he did. He had his first liners out there, and Sid has won over 70% of his faceoffs. You are just looking for something to criticize MT.

If Sid wasn't out there,, and the Flyers scored, I'm sure you'd be saying MT is an idiot for not having Sid out there.